"Lead Additive" for fuel... Is it any good, or not

Will Herring · Aug 16, 2009

I have an old bottle that somebody gave me from FS and it's some sort of lead additive or substitute that I use in my AC WD. I don't notice much of a difference either way, but it isn't costing me anything to use it at this point (I still have like a half a quart of it left, anyway - a little goes a long way). But is the stuff really even necessary? Or is there something better that I should be using? I hear conflicting reports on this all the time.

GA Dave · Aug 16, 2009

Another conflicting report. Snake oil. David..................

Will Herring · Aug 16, 2009

While we're on the subject, what grade of gas should I be running in my tractor (my AC WD). I was just putting in 87 octane... But perhaps I should invest in something higher, or is it not worth it?

kyplowboy · Aug 17, 2009

Old,

Is there any end to your stories about ATF? What have you not added it too? Please leave out the kinky stuff.

Dave

dhermesc · Aug 17, 2009

87 Octane is fine in those old tractors. Some did specify 93 Octane when they came out - but the octane rating used at the time was Research Octane Number (RON). In the US every gas pump uses the average of the RON and Motor Octane Number (MON) - essentially gas that had a rating of 92 in 1955 would today have a rating of 87 octane.

Not to mention the fact that if you have a problem with detonation in 7.5:1 compression engine - its HIGHLY unlikely that the issue is the 87 Octane fuel in the tank.

buickanddeere · Aug 17, 2009

Some of those old tractor engines used an open combustion chamber without a quench or wedge design. Being a large displacement engines, lugging hard and having short cam timing due to low rpms. Which raises combustion temps and pressure.
You can make a 7.5 to 1 engine detonate on 87 in particular with old gasoline, in high air and coolant temps. With some soot in the combustion chamber and/or hot plugs.
Often detonation isn't heard but the spark plugs, piston tops, ring lands, piston rings, cylinder walls and rod bearings say otherwise.
We have all seen engines with broken rings and pounded rod bearings and wondered how it happened.

old · Aug 17, 2009

Back in the day those tractor where made they made some gas that was very low in octane and that was used in tractors because it was cheaper then the gas used in cars

Bus Driver · Aug 17, 2009

Amoco (now BP) NEVER had any lead in their premium gasoline.

bill mart · Aug 17, 2009

honest question here,Does it make a difference if its Dextron or the old FA style for ford trannies.The reason I ask is I have about 6 qts of the ford stuff and will never have a use for it again in a transmission. Bill M.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 17, 2009

Will,I highly reccomend you ask a"knowlegable"engine rebuilder/machinist about hard face valve seats required for gasoline engines running no-lead fuel.Regarding the reference to LP engines not suffering in the absence of lead, factory LP engines are equiped with"hard seats"wherther is is a tractor,auto or generator.It is foolish to think fuel refiners added lead for no reason until EPA made them stop.I have a friend that says multi-grade crankcase oil is "snake oil" also,but we know better.Will no-lead ruin an old machine over-nite,NO but it is hard on it.

old · Aug 17, 2009

Both are pretty much the same unless you pour them in to a tranny and then your in trouble. Something about what ford used and Chev use that made them not work well in the wrong tranny

"Lead Additive" for fuel... Is it any good, or not

Will Herring

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GA Dave

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Will Herring

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kyplowboy

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dhermesc

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buickanddeere

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old

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Bus Driver

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bill mart

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Anonymous-0

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old

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